Today we will focus on water safety... This is something that I can not express enough, WATCH YOUR KIDS! Things can happen in a blink of an eye. Never go inside to just grab something right quick, never allow them to go ahead and get in and you will meet them there, always supervise your little ones.
This past weekend my daughter was swimming with older kids in an extremely shallow pool (2ft deep) and my friends were laughing because I still made my 4yr old wear water wings. I explained that I felt she is still too young to understand that she can't do everything the older kids do and I didn't trust that the older kids understood that she couldn't do everything they did. It is just simple precautions that can make a huge difference in the safety of your child. This article comes from stlouischildrens.org and I think that have some great water safety tips. Much Love, Bridget!
Summer Water Safety
Stlouischildrens.org
Virtually every child looks forward to
summertime. School is out, the weather is great, and many get together for fun
in the sun by playing in and around water. As parents, we try to encourage this
type of fun but must also be mindful that it can be potentially very dangerous.
For this reason, it’s important to know what types of precautions to take and
what every parent needs to be aware of in terms of keeping their children safe
in the water.
Despite a significant decline in childhood
drowning deaths from 1987 to 2001, it still remains the second leading cause of
death related to injuries among 1-14 year olds. In fact, when compared to motor
vehicles, a swimming pool is fourteen times more likely to be involved in the
death of children 5 years old or younger. Unfortunately, this health hazard is
amongst the most preventable of injury-related accidents among children.
So, what can you do to help keep your children
safe around water?
Swimming Pools
There
is no substitute for a 4-sided fence. This has been shown to be the most
effective method in preventing accidental drowning among infants and toddlers,
preventing up to 50% of drownings. Remember the rule of 4’s. 4 sides. 4 feet
high. Using the side of a house as a 4th side is NOT acceptable. It must not be able to be climbed
by children, it must have a self-closing or self-latching gate that is above
the reach of children, and it must not have any items nearby that would allow
children to climb up (furniture, rocks, etc.). Also keep in mind that this
safety precaution is not only for your children but for others in the
neighborhood as well.
Pool
covers, door alarms, and pool alarms work well in conjunction with fences but
they are NOT a substitute for a 4-side pool fence.
NEVER
leave your child alone inside or anywhere near a pool. Use the “touch” rule. In
other words, no child should be further away than an arm’s length at any time
(can always be touched).
Keep
toys away from the swimming pool when not being used
Keep
in mind that most young children that drowned in pools had last been seen
inside the home, were out of sight for less than 5 minutes, and had either one
or both parents at home when it happened. In other words, no one expects
accidents or drownings to happen and they can occur when you least expect it.
Air-filled
or foam flotation devices and toys are NOT a substitute for life jackets. They
are not meant to be used as safety devices.
Natural Bodies of Water
-Be
aware of weather conditions wherever you might be
-Life
jackets while boating are a must, even for those who know how to swim.
- Alcohol
is a major risk factor for drowning among adolescents. You cannot provide
enough education about this to your teenagers
-Encourage
adolescents to learn CPR. This also can’t be emphasized enough.
- If
at the beach, follow all posted signs and flags. Do not underestimate bad
weather, dangerous waves, or rip currents.
General Water Safety
- Learn
CPR. This bears repeating. Anyone and everyone capable of learning CPR should
do so.
- Bathtubs,
buckets, pails, toilets, hot tubs, ponds, and other seemingly safe areas with
water are potentially dangerous. Children can drown in as little as 1-2 inches
of water. Don’t leave buckets filled with water. Don’t allow young children to
have access to bathrooms unattended. Keep infants and toddlers under immediate
(touch) supervision at all times
- Keep
thermostats set below 120ºF to prevent accidental burns
-Children
under 4 years of age are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons. -This
is NOT a recommended tool to prevent drowning. On the flipside, all children 4
years of age or older should learn how to swim.
There are many, many resources available for
parents and children regarding water safety. I know as parents we are often
overwhelmed with large amounts of information to know about various ways to
keep our children safe. Trying to stay informed about everything can indeed be
burdensome. This is why I wrote about this topic as it involves many children
over the course of the summer months, is highly preventable, and can be
achieved by following a few simple guidelines. Click through the links below to
stay informed and receive additional information and details that were not
covered above. Please be sure to also share this with other parents you know to
help spread awareness. There aren’t many things more devastating than losing a
child during a “fun” activity that can happen so quickly even with parents
being immediately present. I hope this helps you or someone you know in
preventing a tragic accident.
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